Indians Tidbits (2008 season)

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

I should have had my sarcasm font on when I made that statement. I realize that Hafner's contract is too large to move and away he is hitting right now nobody would want him. I also don't think we should move C. C. until we are sure we are out of it. As much as I am panicking, I have to realize it is only the first week in May and we are only a couple games behind Chicago or Minneapolis or whomever.

This is true, but looking at the big picture, Detroit is more than likely gonna start to pull away eventually, and the WC isn't coming from this division. There are way to many holes in this lineup and the bullpen is a mess. I try my best to stay optimistic to a point, but, as the old saying goes...you cannot polish a turd.

I would like them to sit Hafner down for awhile and may be used Mart?nez at first and let Garko be the designated hitter with Kelly catching. Hafner is not giving any protection to any of our hitters so why not sit him down for a few days. They say that he quit hitting right after you get hit in the face by Buerle last season but I think he went into his longtime slump a couple weeks after he signed that big contract. They have to try something to get him going again and so they might as well sit him for a week or so. It certainly cannot hurt.

Agreed. It is clearly mental. You do not go from a dominant, middle of the order masher, to a completely worthless hump that quickly without a serious physical injury unless there's just something loose upstairs. He needs to sit for a while because he is providing nothing right now.

In addition to making the Barfield move, I would like them to at least give Marte a chance to see if he can hit at the big-league level. Again, the way Blake is hitting it cannot hurt.

Agreed again. A huge chunk of Blake's numbers this year are from that one good game last wek and he is a total liability in the field at this point. Marte should at least be an upgrade defensively. Doubt it will happen though, as Blake is one of "Wedge's guys". Nepotism is a terrible thing.

I am sure that they will bring Francisco back up next week when he is eligible after is 10-day stint in the minors and maybe they platoon him with Dellucci to help with the offense.

I sure hope so.

I do not think we can keep bringing up AA players and hope that they will produce. I know that Cabrera really came through for us last year but I would like to see Hodges in Buffalo before they bring him to Cleveland. I would bring up Barfield first and see what he does.

I think we're seeing the side effect of bringing Asdrubal up so fast right now. He started off great, but as he strated to work his way around the league again, his numbers have plunged. He needs time at AAA.

I will also say the obvious that they need to try someone else as the closer. I knew that Raffy would get things over faster than Joe but I cannot believe he is that bad just because he is pitching the ninth-inning and not the eighth. I guess we can always try the guy from the Pacific basin to see if he is an improvement.

The drop off from Betancourt and Perez is maybe the most alarming thing this year. Last year, you could count on a lead at least getting to Borowski. This year, they are [censored]ing awful. I don't know who to try in that spot. Kobayashi has been too shaky for me to say with any confidence that he could do it, but he cannot be worse than Borowski or Betancourt. It's all gona be a moot point soon enough when JoeBlow is back. Hopefully somebody decides to take a look at Miller in that role on the farm, because i think with his stuff, he could be a good MLB closer. Plus it would ease the stress on his arm.

I just don't want to make too many moves because I think it is early and these guys had hid in the majors before and will come around... won't
they

You would hope so, but honestly looking at that lineup, I just don't see a lot of reasons to be optimistic. As for C.C., i think Laffey pitching as well as he has so far is a great thing. I had wanted them to try to get C.C. back because he has been a great pitcher. Now, however, you have to look at it objectively. He's a guy that hasn't really kept himself in shape and already has a ton of miles on his arm. I think giving him a big contract would be a mistake.

I just have a feeling that this is gonna be a long season. Back to back 4 hit efforts against the [censored]ing Royals only re-enforces that feeling.

[buckeyemania11]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

In addition to making the Barfield move, I would like them to at least give Marte a chance to see if he can hit at the big-league level. Again, the way Blake is hitting it cannot hurt.

I am sure that they will bring Francisco back up next week when he is eligible after is 10-day stint in the minors and maybe they platoon him with Dellucci to help with the offense.

I do not think we can keep bringing up AA players and hope that they will produce. I know that Cabrera really came through for us last year but I would like to see Hodges in Buffalo before they bring him to Cleveland. I would bring up Barfield first and see what he does.

I will also say the obvious that they need to try someone else as the closer. I knew that Raffy would get things over faster than Joe but I cannot believe he is that bad just because he is pitching the ninth-inning and not the eighth. I guess we can always try the guy from the Pacific basin to see if he is an improvement.

I just don't want to make too many moves because I think it is early and these guys had hid in the majors before and will come around... won't
they

well ive made posted my opinion on Marte on here multiple times, I just dont think he can cut it when he has played he has been terrible at the plate and in the field and I dont see any signs of him really every improving that much, I could be wrong of course

I do agree with Fransisco, Fransisco should probably be in the lineup most days (but he wont) Dellucci and Michaels obviously arent cutting it

as for Hodges, of course he would play some in AAA first if Blake and Marte continue to be terrible something has to be done, I think Hodges has way more upside potential than Marte and may already be a better option than Blake.

Closer is a big concern, Rafael Betancourt cant do it everytime he has been tried at closer he has been terrible, Joe Borowski does not need to be back in the closer role when he gets off the DL I think it may be time to give Jensen Lewis a shot at it.

If they dont come around by Mid July or so I say go ahead and start making moves to try to improve the team for next season

[LitlBuck]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

I just have a feeling that this is gonna be a long season. Back to back 4 hit efforts against the [censored]ing Royals only re-enforces that feeling.

Agree with everything you say but I still want Detroit to pull away before we make any really big moves and just give it up. I especially agree with your comments about Miller. I think we should bring him up and try him out because the way his arm has been acting up the past few years he might not ever be able to be a quality starter.

I think if we stay close we should keep C. C. but I would not give him a long-term big-money contract. You are correct about his conditioning and how many innings he has pitched.

Well, I guess that would mean more time on the Planet for me

hows trevor crowe coming along?

He was doing okay initially but I think he has suffered another minor injury that will keep them out for about 10 days. That was the last report that I heard.

[buckeyemania11]

Originally Posted by NFBuck

The drop off from Betancourt and Perez is maybe the most alarming thing this year. Last year, you could count on a lead at least getting to Borowski. This year, they are [censored]ing awful. I don't know who to try in that spot. Kobayashi has been too shaky for me to say with any confidence that he could do it, but he cannot be worse than Borowski or Betancourt. It's all gona be a moot point soon enough when JoeBlow is back. Hopefully somebody decides to take a look at Miller in that role on the farm, because i think with his stuff, he could be a good MLB closer. Plus it would ease the stress on his arm.

what about bringing Rick Bauer up from AAA to close? they probably arent going to rush Adam Miller and Bauer is having a nice season so far in AAA (12.1 IP 6 Saves 0.73 ERA) he could possibly be at least a decent option to at least get through this season

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Agree with everything you say but I still want Detroit to pull away before we make any really big moves and just give it up. I especially agree with your comments about Miller. I think we should bring him up and try him out because the way his arm has been acting up the past few years he might not ever be able to be a quality starter.

Yeah, i'm not suggesting any moves until late July or the deadline. There's still a lot of baseball to be played, but I don't see one reason right now to think this team will be in it past June. I think Miller's best shot at a long career is as a closer. He would need time at AAA in that role though to see if it's feasible.

I think if we stay close we should keep C. C. but I would not give him a long-term big-money contract. You are correct about his conditioning and how many innings he has pitched.

Agreed, if some miracle happens and the entire lineup has a light come on. I just don't see that happening. I just don't want to let C.C. walk when we could at least get some help in return for him from a contender. I don't think we really have any shot at getting him back unless he continues to pitch like he is and the demand for him drops. Even if that's the case, I wouldn't want to give him a 5-7 year deal when he may only have 2-3 good seasons left in him.

[NFBuck]

Originally Posted by buckeyemania11

what about bringing Rick Bauer up from AAA to close? they probably arent going to rush Adam Miller and Bauer is having a nice season so far in AAA (12.1 IP 6 Saves 0.73 ERA) he could possibly be at least a decent option to at least get through this season

Couldn't be worse than the humps going out there now. Doubt they'll do it though. Borowski will be back soon and I guarantee he's right back in there.